Dear twinky8,

No, that is completely false. Women can and do get pregnant from rape. In fact, more than five percent of all rapes result in pregnancy. Pregnancy can happen any time ejaculate or pre-ejaculate gets in the vagina or on or near the vulva.

If a woman is raped and does not want to become pregnant, she may want to consider emergency contraception (EC). EC can reduce the risk of pregnancy if started within 120 hours of unprotected vaginal intercourse. The sooner EC is taken, the better. It works best when started within 72 hours — during this time it can reduce the risk of pregnancy by 75 to 89 percent.

To make an appointment to receive EC, call 1-800-230-PLAN for the Planned Parenthood center nearest you. Planned Parenthood can also give you information on testing for sexually transmitted infections.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.